Logue Down basketball column: Ben Simmons injury update, NBA playoff hopes, Matisse Thybulle
Ben Simmons’ hopes of taking the court this NBA season are fading fast following a worrying injury update - but there’s a bunch of Aussie stars ready to take on the playoffs in his absence.
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Ben Simmons may not appear in the NBA playoffs this season but a cast of Aussies are ready to star in his absence, including his ex-76ers teammate and Boomers fan favourite Matisse Thybulle.
Simmons will miss the NBA play-in tournament and is in doubt for the playoffs as he continues to rehabilitate a troublesome back injury.
Nets coach Steve Nash remains hopeful that the Melbourne-born guard will suit up in the playoffs if his side makes it that far.
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Brooklyn are 10th in the Eastern Conference with four games to play and look set to fight for a playoffs position in the play-in tournament starting on April 13.
It’s not an ideal scenario, but one a star-studded Nets side featuring world-class shooters like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are more than capable of overcoming.
The long road in the playoffs also gives Simmons more time to recover from his back injury to make a potential comeback.
The Nets would benefit from the Aussie’s presence, especially on the defensive end.
According to NBL legend Chris Anstey, who played 155 NBA games for Chicago and Dallas, Thybulle is ready to steal Simmons’ spotlight in the playoffs.
As Thybulle displayed during the Boomers’ bronze medal run at the Tokyo Olympics, he is a beast on the defensive end with his Inspector Gadget like arms.
🇦🇺 @MatisseThybulle came up big down the stretch to help the @sixers edge the Cavs 112-108.
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) April 4, 2022
📊 4 PTS | 2 REB | 3 AST | 2 STL | 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/ueqgDzabgW
The Sydney-raised guard isn’t the NBA’s most efficient player offensively, but he has the ability to chime in off the bench with big buckets.
Thybulle’s scoring is up to five points per game, but his shooting from range is at its lowest since he started in the NBA at 28 per cent.
Anstey believes the Boomers star from last year’s Tokyo Olympics is primed to produce breakout performances in the post-season with Philadelphia.
The 76ers, currently in fourth position in the Eastern Conference, possess the talent to go deep in the playoffs lead by stars Joel Embiid and James Harden.
“Matisse will have the biggest role out of the Aussies left in the NBA as his team progresses through the playoffs,” Anstey said.
“We’ve always known about his defensive presence, and I’ve been impressed with his offence.
“Over the last month or so he has picked his moments and been reasonably effective in that space.”
Mills is the other Australian set to play a vital role in the playoffs for Brooklyn.
The Boomers veteran has enjoyed a stellar season at the Nets, averaging 11.5 points and shooting 39.8 per cent from three – his best stats from range since the 2016-17 season.
Mills’ role has been reduced following Kyrie Irving’s Covid vaccine clearance to play home games and the recruitment of fellow sharpshooter Seth Curry.
As a result, the Aussie’s offensive productivity and time on the court has decreased.
Anstey, though, is confident that Mills’ Nets can still compete for a championship.
“I don’t care what position the Brooklyn Nets finish in, they are a chance to beat any team in a seven-game series,” he said.
“Patty’s reduced output isn’t something that Australian basketball fans want to recognise, but it will be more limited than we thought.
“It’s a really tricky one in the East because there are four teams at the top within a game of each other.”
Anstey is also expecting a standout playoffs from rising Boomers guard Josh Green, who has impressed at the Dallas Mavericks this season.
Green is averaging 4.7 points and shooting 50 per cent from the field and 35.2 per cent from three.
The Mavericks are currently in fourth in the Western Conference.
“Josh has just quietly gone about being an important player for Dallas,” Anstey said.
“He has also started in some games and the Mavericks are playing as well as anyone behind Phoenix.”
AUSSIES IN THE NBA PLAYOFFS
Matisse Thybulle – Philadelphia 76ers
Josh Green – Dallas Mavericks
Patty Mills – Brooklyn Nets *
Ben Simmons – Brooklyn Nets *
*The Nets need to qualify for the playoffs through the play-in tournament
YOUNG STAR FOLLOWING IN GIDDEY’S FOOTSTEPS
Australia has produced NBA stars like Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills and more recently Josh Giddey, so who is next?
“Dyson Daniels — remember the name,” respected ESPN draft analyst Mike Schmitz said recently.
“He is going to be a top ten pick in this upcoming draft.
“He is incredibly impressive on both ends of the floor and I think he is one of the most complete prospects.”
G-League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels really starting to put up some impressive numbers
— No Ceilings (@NoCeilingsNBA) March 8, 2022
First 20 Games:
🀠11.4 PTS, 5.9 REB, 4.1 AST, 2.0 STL, 47.1 FG%, 25.8 3P%
Last 5 Games:
ðŸ€12.4 PTS, 10.2 REB, 6.8 AST, 2.2 STL, 47.3 FG%, 42.1 3P% #NBADraft
pic.twitter.com/g3TOltbwJD
Schmitz met Daniels in Melbourne last week and was highly impressed with the rising guard who also played AFL for six years as a kid.
“Dyson has got these funky instincts like we’ve seen with Josh Giddey,” he said.
“There is his IQ, his vision with an unselfish style.
“It starts defensively. He is 6 foot 8 with a 6’11 wingspan who can defend multiple positions and play one through four.
“I’m just really impressed with his versatility and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor.”
The NBL has detailed its plan to follow in the footsteps of the NBA and secure the league’s future through private equity and strategic partners, which could include a stake from the world’s best league.
Private investment has exploded on the global sports stage, especially in America.
In the last 20 months, Arctos Sports Partners has taken stakes in 12 American teams, including the NBA’s Golden State Warriors.
Blue Owl Capital’s Dyal Capital has also purchased portions of the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings.
The NBA as a league is also looking to invest in other leagues, which could also involve the NBL in the future.
The Australian league already has multiple NBA related investments, including that of 13 current/past NBA players involved in team ownership.
There is also a proven pathway through the NBA’s Global Academy in Canberra and the NBL’s Next Stars program, which makes joining forces with the Australian league more appealing than the current political struggles seen in the EuroLeague with FIBA.
Could we see the NBA invest in the NBL? It’s a legitimate prospect, according to commissioner Jeremy Loeliger.
“We have a great relationship with the NBA, and we are always talking with them about ways to continue to grow the game,” Loeliger told the Logue Down.
“Already we’ve learnt a lot from what they’ve achieved with the BAL and what they’re hoping to achieve in other parts of the world.
“There’s a great deal of interest in our league and our clubs from all corners of the globe of late and people are consistently asking how they can get involved.”
Loeliger points out that outside of the NBA, the NBL is arguably rated as the world’s best basketball league and people are drawn to the league’s quality and the trust it has built over the years.
Kestelman purchased the Australian men’s domestic league for $7 million in 2015, but basketball has since surged, raising the question: how much is the NBL now worth?
The league has sold the TV rights for the first time via ESPN, Foxtel, Kayo and 10 Peach, while crowds and viewership numbers have increased.
According to Loeliger, licence values have “considerably grown” in recent years, with one official saying some franchise licenses could be worth upwards of $20 million.
The NBL has also adopted new rules that allow, in some circumstances, certain types of entities to own interests in more than one NBL club.
This is a model the NBA uses and Loeliger says the NBL would like to mirror it.
“That is exactly how the NBA began courting interest from private equity firms and driving value in its club licences, which is ultimately what we would love to do here in co-operation with club owners,” he said.
“But I think owners are likely just as if not more interested in who is making these investments, rather than how much money they can attract.
“So, regardless of whether it’s private equity, or corporates or high net worth individuals and family funds, at the end of the day it’s very much about what value those partners can add from a strategic point of view as much as it is about the capital they can bring to the equation.”
Private equity has also taken off in Australia, with the A-Leagues’ landmark deal with US firm Silver Lake.
Silver Lake have taken a 33.3 per cent minority stake in the A-Leagues (men and women) worth nearly AUS$140 million (US$100 million).
The sum values the entire A-Leagues organisation at AUS$425 million (US$303 million).
This deal has prompted NBL owner Larry Kestelman to express interest in following football’s lead in an attempt to secure Australian basketball’s future.
Kestelman travelled to New York at the start of the year to talk to potential investors about expanding the ownership of the NBL.
The league confirmed conversations with potential investors continue as it edges closer to locking in financial partners to secure the competition’s future.
“It’s no secret the NBL is still in an aggressive growth mode, and is sustainable and now profitable, a trifecta for investors,” Loeliger said.
“In all honesty we were receiving expressions from offshore private equity only a couple of years after we started on this journey and that interest continues to bubble away.
“We’re certainly not in any rush, but would certainly be open to conversations with true strategic partners who could genuinely help us take our product to the next level.
“So, we are simply fielding interest but haven’t commenced a process yet but will consider our position again later in the year.
“Our current focus is to finish the year strongly and keep building our product and grow.”
MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
— Sydney Kings (@SydneyKings) March 16, 2022
Hoops Capital Pty Ltd has announced an agreed investment by Wollemi Capital Group. The deal aims to build a long-term partnership with the shared goal of growing women’s and men’s basketball across the country.
For more details: https://t.co/ADQTjy1kQlpic.twitter.com/zVDyPUqzWx
In a further boost for basketball, the Sydney Kings recently announced Tesla chair Robyn Denholm as an investment partner.
For all the positives, there could be challenges as clubs have privately expressed concern about the private equity model.
Kestelman owns the 10-team NBL league, meaning the majority of profit goes to him and not the clubs.
There is a belief that the commercial categories protected by the NBL are too broad and deep, and most assets aren’t available to team owners to sell commercially.
Longley’s King-sized impact
Aussie hoops royalty Luc Longley is having a major impact on the high-flying Sydney Kings in his role as the club’s special advisor.
That’s the good oil from multiple Kings players and coach Chase Buford, who can’t speak more highly of the legendary big man’s influence on the club.
Star guard Jaylen Adams credits Longley for helping him with tips and insights.
“Luc made me feel welcome from day one,” Adams said.
“He regularly talks to me; sends me texts and we’ve been out to dinner a few times.
“Luc is a good dude and it’s about soaking up that knowledge.”
Adams concedes he feels starstruck in Longley’s company given he won three NBA championships alongside Michael Jordan at the Chicago Bulls.
“My dad is a big Michael Jordan fan, so just seeing Luc on the floor at training is amazing,” he said.
“I remember watching NBA hardwood classics, so just seeing Luc all the time now it’s crazy to think he actually played with Michael.”
Colangelo’s visit
Two-time NBA executive of the year turned Illawarra Hawks co-owner Bryan Colangelo is in Australia for his first visit Down Under in two years.
Colangelo, who will be here for two weeks, had a courtside seat in Melbourne on Saturday to watch the Hawks’ big win over United.
His father Jerry Colangelo owned the Suns and was the long-term managing director for Team USA.
Colangelo junior, who worked at Phoenix, Toronto, and Philadelphia, plans to attend a host of Hawks games before heading to Tasmania to see the JackJumpers.
Hawks co-owner and president Dorry Kordahi is thrilled to host Colangelo.
“We’re very excited to have Bryan make his way down,” Kordahi said.
“We have worked together for a couple of years now and to finally meet in person is fantastic.
“We have already hit the ground running and sharing insights first-hand into our program and what we have developed as a group.”
LIKE
Rising Boomers guard Josh Green has produced a career-best campaign with the Dallas Mavericks this season — and his form off the floor is just as good.
Green, who is playing a vital role for Mavs mostly off the bench, produced an all-time sting on star teammate Luka Doncic.
Prior to Dallas’ game against the Lakers, Doncic arrived wearing Green’s Australian Boomers national team singlet with a beanie over his face.
Luka Doncic had to wear an Australian jersey after losing a bet to Josh Green 🇦🇺😂
— FIBA (@FIBA) March 31, 2022
What do you think the bet was?
📸 @dallasmavspic.twitter.com/xAGC1TMFN5
It appears the Mavs star lost bet with Green, who walked into the arena ahead of Doncic with a big smile on his face.
Doncic steered Slovenia to an impressive run at the Tokyo Olympics this past off-season, before going down to Green and the Boomers in the bronze medal game.
DISLIKE
The South East Melbourne Phoenix were playing for the playoff lives against Cairns on Saturday night, but instead they laid an egg.
The Phoenix couldn’t get the job done against the lowly Taipans, meaning their finals hopes are done and dusted for the season.
It’s a bitterly disappointing result for a team with so much talent.
SHOOSH
Which player is weighing up hanging up the sneakers at season’s end?
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Originally published as Logue Down basketball column: Ben Simmons injury update, NBA playoff hopes, Matisse Thybulle
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